The future of one of Australia’s rarest birds—the Eyre Peninsula Southern Emu-wren—hangs in the balance, with a decision due within weeks on whether to allow a rocket launching facility to be constructed at Whalers Way, South Australia. This area is a crucial habitat for the tiny, endangered emu-wren, with as few as 500 to 750 individuals remaining. The proposed construction of launch pads, blast walls, and bunkers would destroy coastal heathland, creating noise pollution, shock waves, and the risk of rocket fuel fires, all of which could spell disaster for this dwindling population.

Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek holds the power to stop this project. The Albanese Government has committed to no new extinctions and has pledged to protect 30% of Australian land, including private protected areas like Whalers Way. Allowing this development to proceed would be a major test of that commitment. As Associate Professor Patrick O’Connor, President of the Nature Conservation Society of SA (NCSSA), stated, “This decision will reveal where the Government’s priorities truly lie. The Minister has agreed with scientific advice that all remaining habitat for this bird is critical and must be protected. Building a commercial rocket launching complex on top of its habitat clearly runs contrary to that advice.”

The NCSSA has been calling for a more appropriate location for the rocket launching facility since 2020, arguing that there are many other sites where such a development could be built without risking another extinction. More than 9,000 objections were lodged during the most recent round of public consultation. Claims that the negative impacts on endangered species can be “offset” are unconvincing, especially given the Government’s own audits, which show major issues with delivering such offsets in practice. As Associate Professor O’Connor noted, “If we don’t want to see plants and animals go extinct, we need to protect primary, critical habitat for our threatened species as a priority, and the Minister could do that here with a stroke of her pen.”

Don’t let the precious Eyre Peninsula Southern Emu-wren be wiped out. Forward this pre-filled letter to urge Minister Plibersek to reject the rocket launching facility at Whalers Way and protect this vulnerable species.